Fluid control mechanism

ABSTRACT

HYDRAULIC DISCHARGE SYSTEMS HAVING A PRESSURIZABLE WATER TANK WITH AN INLET FOR SUPPLYING WATER UNDER PRESSURE TO THE TANK AND A WATER DISCHARGE PORT WITH A PISTON VALVE TO CONTROL THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE PORT AND A SPRING URGING SAID VALVE TO ITS CLOSED POSITION. A VENTED CHAMBER AND DASHPOT CHAMBER ARE DISPOSED WITHIN SAID TANK WITH THE PISTON VALVE OPERATING IN THE VENTED CHAMBER. A ROD EXTENDS FROM SAID PISTON THROUGH SAID CHAMBERS AND A DASHPOT PISTON IS AXIALLY AFFIXED THERETO AND IS RECIPROCABLY MOVABLE IN THE DASHPOT   CHAMBER. AN AIR BLEED CONDUIT INTERCONNECTS THE DASHPOT AND VENTED CHAMBERS TO CONTROL THE RATE OF CLOSING OF THE PISTON VALVE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF SAID SPRING.

United States Patent 91 Larson L June 28, 1974 541 FLUID CONTROL MECHANISM 3,605,125 9/1971 Gibbs et al. 4/41 [75] Inventor: Wesley S. Larson, Enfiald, Conn.- 3,677,294 7/1972 Glbbset al 4/26 X [73] Assignee: Water Control Products, Inc., New rimary Examiner-Henry K. ArtiS York, NY. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Chapin, Neal and Dempsey [2]} Appl. No.: 281,412 Hydraulic discharge systems having a pressurizable water tank with an inlet for supplying water under [52] Us. CL 4/31 4/26 pressure to the tank and a water discharge port with a [51 1 Int 0 E63! d 3/06 piston valve to control the opening and closing of the [58] Field of Search 4/1 26 20 2L3 port and a spring urging said valve to its closed posi- 4/33 41 6 6 3 tion. A vented chamber and dashpot chamber are dis- /1 44 posed within said tank with the piston valve operating in the vented chamber. A rod extends from said piston [56] References Cited through said chambers and a dashpot piston is axially affixed thereto and is reciprocably movable in the UNITED STATES PATENTS dashpot chamber. An air bleed conduit interconnects 1,245,733 H/ 1917 the dashpot and vented chambers to control the rate of closing of the piston valve under the influence of 3:397:408 8/1968 Sprmg 3,555,571 l/l97l 5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures llllllllllllllllillll III III II I I I I M memsmuuz m 3.829171 sum 1 BF 2 II I I I I I I I I I II II IIIII' III IIIIII I I'III II I I I III I II'I 'III II I IIQ I IINIIII IIII :1 I II II lI l IlII IIIII III IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII' III I I II I Q I I I I I I I I I I I I I IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIH,

FLUID CONTROL MECHANISM BACKGROUND While most hydraulic discharge systems, such as currently available for toilet flushing devices, are dependent upon gravity water flow from a water storage tank, there have been a number of devices disclosed in recent patents which contemplate pressurized toilet flushing. One such device is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,677,294 and another in my copending application Ser. No. 281,350, filed of even date herewith, wherein the flush tank water is discharged-forcefully under pressure so that effective flushing is economically achieved with a much smaller volume of water than used in conventional gravity systems.

This invention relates to a liquid discharge system wherein a piston valve is operated for 'the discharge of liquid from the system and includes a time controlled closure of the valve. The system has wide applications varying from industrial use for supplying liquid additives to various liquid systems to home toilet flushing devices. The instant invention provides an improved hydraulic discharge system, particularly with respect to the so-called dribble flow by which the vessel or bowl into which the system discharges is refilled with water to a predetermined level after the flushing phase of the cycle.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved discharge system having pressurized water discharge characterized by an effective time controlled refill of the vessel being flushed whereby a predetermined quantity of water refills the vessel subsequent to the discharge of the supply tank and prior to the refill of the supply tank.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved discharge system of the above type which is of simple construction, effective in operation and in which parts subject to wear can be readily replaced by the average homeowner without requiring the services of a trained technician.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved discharge system of the above type inwhich a dashpot is provided for time controlled operation of at least a portion of the valve cycle.

The above and other objects and advantages of this invention will be more readily apparent from the following description and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view showing a water discharge assembly embodying the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 1 with the movable components disposed in different operative relation.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown a pressurizable tank 4, having a capacity of about two gallons, which may be fabricated, such as by.

The tank is also provided with a discharge opening or port 10, which in the embodiment shown, is provided with a valve seat 12 appropriately affixed thereto. Of course, the valve seat may be molded integral with the body of the tank. The tank is used in conjunction with a suitable discharge receiving vessel, such as a toilet bowl, a portion of which is indicated at 13 to which the tank, is bolted. A conduit 15, as shown, may be provided to conduct the inlet water directly into the discharge opening to insure positive refilling of the toilet bowl after each flushing operation. The top of the tank 4 is provided with an opening 14 disposed opposite the discharge opening 10.

Control means provides for sequential operation of the system, including (a) pressurized discharge of water from the storage tank 4, (b) recharging the discharge vessel or bowl 13 to the proper level and (c) recharging of the storage tank 4. The control means comprises a piston valve 16 affixed to one 'end of a vertically-movable, tubular rod 18. The upper end of the rod is slidably engaged by an actuating lever 20 pivotable about upstanding fulcrum 21. As shown, the rod 18 includes a flange or cap 22 whereby downward operation of the outer end of the lever 20 serves to lift the rod 18 sufficiently to break the seal between the piston valve 16 and the valve seat 12. When the seal is broken, the pressurized water in the tank 4 will be forcefully disgorged through the port 10 and the piston 16 will be forced upwardly by the water pressure to its FIG. 2 position. When this occurs, rod 18 will slide upwardly through the lever 20 which may be appropriately shaped to accommodate this movement.

The control means further comprises a cylinder 25 which depends from the top of the tank and is open at its lower end terminating in spaced opposed relation to the tanks discharge port 10. The upper end of the cylinder 25 has an externally threaded rim 27 which screws into a threaded recess in the tank. A plate 29 is appropriately fitted to close the top of the cylinder which provides a vent chamber 26 and a dashpot chamber 28 which cooperate in the operation of the piston valve 16 in both its opening and closing strokes.

The valve 16 may be fabricated'of any suitable material and may be integrally molded of a suitable material,

such as ABS resin and provided with an elastomeric sealing ring 30 engageable with the valve seat surrounding the discharge opening. Alternatively, the piston valve may be-integrally molded of a resilient material, such as polypropylene, without the provision of a separate sealing ring. About its upper edge, the piston has a sealing ring configuration 31 such that pressurized water is kept out of the vent chamber 26 above the piston.

A hole 32 opens through the wall of the tubular rod 18 and provides communication between the vent chamber 26 and the inside of the tubular rod which in turn is vented to atmospheres both above the tank through the top of the rod 18 and below the tank into the bowl 13. Should water escape around the top seal and to return the valve to itsclosedconditiodafter each flushing cycle. A sealing disc 36. is attached to the the tank. The disc is designedto rupture before any structural element of the system and upon breakage of the disc, water under pressure will escape into the vent chamber 26 and thus into the toilet bowl by way of discharge hole 32. r

A dashpot piston 40 is axially affixed to the rod 18' and includes inner and outer seals 42 and 44 respectively whereby on upward strokes of the rod 18 air will noted that the fine groove 46 providedinthe surface of the piston rod '18 has its narrowest dimension cornmunieating between the vent chamber 26 from the dashpot chamber 28. This fine line permits air to bleed slowly from the dashpot chamber into the vent charn- 3 her 26. As a result ofthis gradual release of air from the dashpot chamber, the piston 16 moves only slowly at the beginning of its downstroke. During this time, water from the inlet 6 flows into the discharge port .10 and fills the discharge vessel or toilet bowl to its predetermined level usually requiring about two quarts of wa- V ter. With continued downward movement of the piston 16 under the influence of coil spring 33 there is an inflow around the periphery of the dashpot piston so that atmospheric pressure is maintained on opposite sides of the dashpot piston. On the downward stroke, the sealing edge 44 of the piston blocks air flow about the periphery of the piston. A longitudinally extending groove 46 of uniform depth but gradually tapered width from end-to-end thereof is scribed into the surface of the rod to permit gradual and controlled release of air from the dashpot chamber 28 as the dashpot piston 40 moves downward under the influence of the return spring 33.

At first the movement of the piston rod 18 is quite slow since the groove 46 is of very minute cross section at its'lower end. As the piston moves slowly downward, the width of groove 46 communicating between the dashpot and vent chambers increases graduallyand the downward rate of movement of the rod' 18 increases.

During this time controlled closing movement of piston 16, water flowing into the tank from inlet 6 discharges directly through outlet 10 and into the toilet bowl whereby the bowl is refilled to a predetermined level, usually about 2 quarts.

OPERATION v Immediately, the pressurized water will be forcefully .disgorged in the nature of a slug from the tank through the discharge opening 10 and will effect a rapid and thorough flushing of the toilet bowl 13. It has been found that approximately two gallons of water discharged under pressure in this manner is more effective than twice'the volume of water released from a gravity flow system.

As watercoursesthroug h the discharge opening, it

pushes the piston valve 16 and rod 18 upwardly, compressing coil spring 33. A seal-ing ball 27 prevents water surge through the tubular rod 18. The dashpot, piston 40 is carried upwardly by therod '18.Air is vented from chamber 26 through the discharge port 32 while the air in the dashpot chamber, becauseof the configuration of the seal 44 of the dashpot piston, flows about the periphery of the piston'and equalizeson both sides thereof so that in its FIG. 2 position atmospheric pressure is maintained above and below the-dashpot piston. As soon as the water level drops below, the bottom surface of the piston valve 16, expansion of coil spring 33 commences. At this time, however, it willbe creased rate of air exhausted from the dashpot cham her because groove 46 provides a bleed channel of increasing cross sectional size between the dashpot and vent chambers. As a result, the dashpot piston permits the piston 16 and rod 18 to be moved downward at a V faster rate until the piston valve engagesthe valve seat a and completely closes and seals the discharge port 10.

At this time the continued flow of water from the inlet port 6 recharges the tank until pressure in the tank equals the water pressure of the inlet line. The system is then ready for another cycle of operation.

. Having thus disclosed my invention, which is claimed 2 1. Liquid discharge apparatus for controlling the discharge of liquid into a receiving vessel: comprising a pressurizable tank having an inlet for supplying liquid under pressure into said tank, a liquid discharge port for discharging liquid under pressure from said tank, a piston valve reciprocably operable to open and close said port, means releasably urging said piston valve to a closed position, a piston rod associated with said valveextending outwardly of said tank for retracting said valve from its closed position, a vent chamber and dashpot chamber disposed within said tank, and having a dashpot piston carried'on said piston rod in the dashpot chamber, and means controlling the rate of dashpot descent wherebysaid piston valve closes at a varying rate.

2. Liquid discharge apparatus for controlling the discharge of liquid into a receiving vessel comprising a pressurizable tank having an inlet for supplyingliquid under pressure into said tank, a liquid discharge port for discharging liquid under pressure from said tank, a piston valve reciprocablyoperable to open and close said port, means releasably urging said piston valve to a closed positon, a piston rod associated withsaid valve extending outwardly of said tankv for retracting said I said valve from its closed position, a vent chamber and r dashpotchamber'disposed within said tank, and having 1 1 a dashpot piston carried onsaidpiston rod in the dashpot chamber, and an interconnecting conduit of varying cross section for the controlled release of air from r the dashpot chamber whereby said piston valve closes at a varying rate. r

3. Liquid dischargeapparatus for controlling'the disfor discharging liquid under pressure, fromsaid tank, a piston valve reciprocably operable to open and close said port, means. releasably urging said piston valve to a closed position, apiston rod associated with said valve extending outwardly of saidv tank for retracting a dashpot chamber disposed within said tank, and having a dashpot piston carried on said piston rod in the dashpot chamber, and an interconnecting groove in the surface of said piston rod which tapers in width longitudinally of the rod and is of generally uniform depth throughout its length and having its widest cross section toward the upper end of said rod, said interconnecting groove controlling the release of air from said dashpot chamber whereby said piston valve closes at a varying rate.

4. Liquid discharge aparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which said piston rod is tubular, open to the atmosphere at the top and bottom ends thereof, and in which an opening is provided through the wall of said rod to provide communication between said vent provided by a cylinder which extends into said tank and has a transverse wall dividing the cylinder into said dashpot and vent chambers, said cylinder being provided with a' rupture disc in the wall thereof for providing release of liquid from said tank into said vent chamber. 

